Join Our mailing list

Subscribe and be the first to receive updates about the book, plus we'll send you chapter one of The Emotional Overdraft, for free:

You can expect great content and interesting ideas.We’ll never spam you or share your data.

Buy the Book

Archives

Red Friday: The silent storm leaders face in January (and what you can do about it)

January carries a unique weight for business owners and leaders. While many people step into the new year filled with optimism and resolutions, leaders often experience the opposite. The pressure to revitalise the business, re-energise teams, and tackle lingering issues from the previous year can lead to what I call an ’emotional overdraft’ – the […]

Forget about the audience. Forget about perfection. Just write.

Ernest Hemingway once said, “there is nothing to writing. all you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.” That quote has stayed with me. There’s something raw and beautiful about it. Writing, at its core, is an act of opening up – sometimes in ways we didn’t expect or even intend. It’s easy […]

Staying connected across generations – lessons on leadership and judgement

As a 50-something year old man with two kids now in their 30s, it’s tempting to believe I understand what it’s like to be 13 today. Truth is, I don’t. And that’s okay—it’s a reminder of how important it is for different generations to stay connected and keep learning from one another. This article from The […]

Workplace wellbeing is a waste of time—or are we just looking at it all wrong?

As we approach the end of 2024, it’s striking how much workplace wellbeing remains misunderstood. At the start of the year, my book The Emotional Overdraft launched alongside an Oxford study claiming that many wellbeing initiatives are ineffective. Critics argue that these efforts are either a distraction or a sticking plaster over deeper workplace issues. Here’s the […]

How to give a meaningful gift, sensitively

Gift-giving is a beautiful way to show you care, but sometimes, finding a gift with genuine meaning can feel daunting. While self-help or wellbeing books can be transformative gifts – and have a much longer impact that the usual socks or shower gel – they also require a delicate touch to ensure they’re received with […]

Resist-mas: a survival guide for the season (and the start of 2025)

For everyone who already knows they’ll be clinging to their sanity by a fraying thread come mid-December, this article is for you.  Resist-mas is my rallying cry for those who’d rather not roll into the Christmas hols with nerves stretched as tight as overstuffed stockings. Here’s my advice on resisting ending the year deep in […]

Play Hard to Get: How Scarcity Drives Demand

Scarcity isn’t just a sales tactic; it’s a strategy for cultivating brand mystique and customer loyalty. Last Crumb, the “Rolex of cookies,” has mastered this art by treating their limited-edition cookie releases like exclusive product drops, akin to those of high-end streetwear brands. This model has done more than fuel demand—it has positioned Last Crumb […]

Watch: what is failure? A reflection on Giannis Antetokounmpo’s response

In the aftermath of the Milwaukee Bucks’ surprise playoff loss to the Miami Heat, NBA superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo was asked a question he’d heard before: Was this season a failure? His answer—both thoughtful and spirited—offered a window into his mindset on the nature of success and failure, and it brings a refreshing perspective that resonates […]

6 must-read books for building life-changing habits

If you’re looking to transform your habits, Jeff McKeon’s list (shared on LinkedIn) of recommended reads is an inspiring starting point. These books are invitations to reframe how we think about habits, productivity, and growth. Building habits is essential to maintaining balance and purpose in life, especially for leaders who face challenges that can drain […]

The Resentment Letter: why writing it can help you heal

I’m no therapist, but I do know that everyone – to my knowledge – has experienced resentment. That burning sense of frustration when someone we care about falls short of our expectations.  The challenge with resentment, however, is that it tends to build up. When left unaddressed, it transforms into contempt, which can corrode our […]

The Power of Listening to Your Emotions

In my experience as a coach, and through the research for my book, there’s one thing that is abundantly clear: many leaders and high achievers push themselves into emotional overdraft by ignoring or even outright dismissing their emotions. We’ve been taught to ‘power through’, to keep a stiff upper lip, to ‘just get to the […]

When did you first join LinkedIn? Here’s how to find out…

How long have you been building connections? LinkedIn was founded in 2003 with 10 users. By 2004 it had 100k and by 2009 there were a staggering 17 million users!  If you’re curious to see how long you’ve been part of LinkedIn then here’s a simple way to check: I was 2007 by the way – […]

Why Work-Life Balance is a Myth – here’s why…

Everyone talks about work-life balance as if it’s a magic formula. Prioritise it, and everything will fall into place. Scott Carpet wrote an excellent Linkedin post challenging this traditional mindset, and it really struck a chord with me. I’ve been thinking about his points, and I want to expand on them and bring in my own experience—particularly […]

Papa’s Tomato Garden – One of my favourite stories…

Is necessity really the mother of invention?  Do difficult situations inspire ingenious solutions?  Can constraints foster creativity? The below is one of my favourite stories for highlighting creative responses to challenging situations. It’s an oldie, but a goodie. An old Italian lived alone in New Jersey.  He wanted to plant his annual tomato garden, but it […]

Be assertive, not aggressive. Practical steps to build assertiveness…

Navigating difficult conversations without causing conflict is an essential skill, but it’s easier said than done. I read a piece from Team Sterka – a business that supercharges client interactions through their People Skills As A Service® programme – that struck a chord.  They said: be assertive, but don’t be aggressive. This simple yet powerful distinction is especially important in situations […]

Energy in Motion – Learning to Listen to What Our Feelings Are Telling Us

Emotions can sometimes feel like an unwelcome intrusion.  We’ve been conditioned to believe that only positive emotions are valid, while negative ones should be suppressed or ignored. But what if we viewed emotions not as something to be feared, but as vital sources of information?  The idea that ‘you are not your emotions; you are […]

Milestones: The Silent Architects of Business Success

As leaders, ensuring that our projects progress as expected hinges on setting clear, measurable milestones. Without these markers, we risk relying on hope rather than strategy, which is far from ideal. Milestones offer us the assurance that we’re on the right track and allow us to manage projects with confidence. It’s like building a house […]

Perfection is impossible – lessons from Federer

“Perfection is impossible. Throughout my career, I played 1,526 singles matches and won nearly 80% of them. But do you know how many points I actually won? Just 54%. That’s right, even at the highest level of tennis, players win just over half the points they play. This teaches you an important lesson: you can’t […]

Bad Habits. 13 Things to Give Up

When you’re feeling stressed, anxious or somewhat overwhelmed, it can be hard to know where to start. This list of ’13 things you should give up’ is as good a starting place as any. Choose one, practice it, make it a habit. Then choose another, and repeat. Small, simple (not easy) incremental changes that have […]

Stop Stressing: The Hidden Cost of Deferred Tasks and How to Beat It

Chris Williamson shared an insightful concept on The Diary of a CEO podcast that speaks directly to the challenges many leaders face today. He introduced the idea of a “stress cost” that arises when we defer tasks. According to Williamson, when we postpone an activity, it doesn’t simply vanish; it lingers in our minds, becoming a constant […]

Resilient businesses don’t just bounce back from challenges, they bounce forward

I’ve spent years helping leaders navigate the complexities of organisational resilience. I even write a book that is, at its core, about helping leaders to become more resilient – or avoid demising their resilience. When I came across this article by Dana Maor, Michael Park, and Brooke Weddle from McKinsey & Company titled “Raising the […]

15 TED Talks on Emotional Intelligence (with links)

I know it’s often difficult to fit extra reads, watches or listens to an already packed day, but these 15 TEDTalks on YouTube are great if you’re after a little dose of self-development each week. Thanks to David McLean who shared the list on LinkedIn, and thank you to positive psychology blogger, Kelly Miller for […]

Friday ponder… If all jobs paid the same, what would you be doing?

Imagine a world where every job, from teacher to tech mogul, offers the same salary. What career would you choose? I don’t have the answer to this one, but it’s a scenario that invites us to reflect on our true passions and motivations. Follow your passion Without financial pressure, many would likely pursue their true […]

Feeling Stuck? Ask “what can we do?”

Reframe your challenges and find solutions. You’ve hit a wall. Maybe you had an idea, but it won’t work. You asked for something but were rejected. You tried something, and it failed. The problem is, that often when we imagine how we’ll get something, we start to think it’s the only way to get something.  I was inspired by […]

Motivating Change in the Workplace

Imagine a workplace where everyone did what you needed them to do, without the need for micro-management and prodding. Even better, picture employees doing these things because they genuinely want to, not because they have to!  As leaders, our goal is to create an environment where motivation thrives naturally. And it’s achievable reality through understanding […]

Core Requirements: The Edge of Tactical and Technical Proficiency

Leaders often hear about the importance of being visionary, charismatic, and inspiring. While these traits are valuable, they must be built on a solid foundation of tactical and technical proficiency. Before anything else, you need to be mentally, tactically, and technically proficient. Without this core foundation, everything else is pointless. The idea of being “fit […]

Watch: The Truth about Feeling Triggered

Gabor is always a source of great inspiration. This short over on Instagram is a great reminder as to what’s going on when you feel ‘triggered’. WATCH THE VIDEO, HERE.

How to Spot if You’re Overworking

I was recently asked by a client, “How can I tell when working hard turns into overworking? What are the signs?”. I’ve seen countless leaders struggle with this challenge – myself included – attempting to balance the fine line between healthy ambition and overwork. And time and again I’ve seen the scales tip into the […]

Happiness is fleeting. Search for fulfilment instead.

I loved this article from boosst on the pursuit of fulfilment rather than happiness. Such a lovely idea that can really help to manage emotional overdraft too. It inspired me to give the two a little more thought. Happiness is often a fleeting state of pleasure, sparked by moments like enjoying a meal or laughing […]

Leadership, more than just ‘telling people what to do’

I saw this image on pm.leadership on Instagram and it got me thinking about another great article on what leadership really means by Otti Vogt on Medium: “The leader who points the finger is not a hero, because you’re not looking at him or her, and neither at their finger, you’re not trying to be […]

The bit between your teeth. 

“There’s no point in me having the bit between my teeth for the other person, I need to be passed to them.” This quote, from Derek Clark, a well-known swimming coach, got me thinking.  The more I thought about it, the more I realised this statement carries an important lesson for leaders (me included!). How […]

Children and their curious questions – a lesson for leaders

As a child, I was profoundly influenced by Carl Sagan. His book Cosmos was a constant companion, full of incredible ideas. Sagan, more than just an astronomer, was a philosopher who understood the importance of wonder and curiosity, especially in children. This short video – and the extra excerpt from Carl below it is an incredibly valuable […]

What you choose to focus on, will grow. Attention is powerful.

The power of focus cannot be overstated. The idea that “what you choose to focus on will grow” is much more than just a motivational, cheesy slogan; it’s rooted in the very fabric of how our brains operate. Our brains are incredibly adept at supporting and amplifying whatever we pay attention to, be it love, […]

The Silent Pandemic: Burnout 

I hungrily demolish articles (often written by those much more clever than myself) on the impact living in an emotional overdraft has on business leaders. I loved this article on LinkedIn from Chen Hascalovitz, a PhD candidate in Population Health, who is brilliant at addressing the complex challenges at the intersection of economic policy and mental […]

The CIA Guide to Sabotaging Meetings: Timeless Tips for Tormenting Your Team

Who knew that the CIA—or rather, its predecessor, the OSS—could dish out meeting advice that remains hilariously spot-on today? Shared with me by Jesse Morgan (thanks Jesse!), this 1944 guide, intended to help Axis sympathisers disrupt enemy operations, could just as easily apply to modern corporate life. Think of it as the OG playbook for office sabotage.

The 20% Rule: Reclaim your time and energy

I recently took on a PA (Hello brilliant JJ!). Over the last few weeks I’ve spoken about her involvement going forward with my clients and other people in my life. The reaction has been interesting.

High Performance Anxiety – Five Signs of Functional Freeze

Functional freeze is particularly prevalent among those with high-functioning anxiety. These individuals often seem calm and efficient but are battling significant internal stress. Here are five signs that you, or someone you know, might be experiencing functional freeze

Mansplaining.

Women face mansplaining 312 times a year at work. We can all take note from the cringeworthy viral video where a female PGA Professional was given some unwanted advice at a driving range. For context, this is Georgia Bell, an elite PGA golfer, and the man giving advice has “played for 20 years.” It encapsulates […]

The Blessing and Curse of Resilience

A simple reminder on resilience. Two things can be true:  When leaders constantly operate in an emotionally overdrawn state, the cost is their resilience, risk of burnout, and diminished effectiveness. Changing the systems that require resilience Rather than focusing solely on building resilience, there’s a need to change the systems that demand it. Leaders often find […]

Transformational Leadership: What is it, and how can it help to lead a more balanced life?

Transformational Leadership: A Path to Balanced Success Leaders often find themselves running on empty, caught in a cycle of stress, long hours, and personal sacrifice. Living this way –  deep in their emotional overdraft – is all too common among business owners and leaders who have become accustomed to overcoming challenges at the expense of their […]

10 Signs You’re Addicted to Stress

There’s a difference between occasionally feeling stressed and being addicted to stress. Growing up in a chaotic environment, where stress and instability are the norm, or spending a significant amount of time in highly stressful work/home environments can condition your body to crave the chemicals released during stress. As adults, we may not even realise we’re addicted to this survival mode. Here are ten signs that you’re addicted to stress:

The 12 Stages of Burnout: A Guide for Leaders

Burnout is the result of being in a constantly emotionally overdrawn state, but how can you spot the signs before things get too far gone?

Psychologists Herbert Freudenberger and Gail North outlined the 12 stages of burnout, which can give you an idea of where you stand. Take a look, how many apply to you?:

“For A Leader” by J. O’Donohue

May you have the grace and wisdomTo act kindly, learningTo distinguish between what isPersonal and what is notMay you be hospitable to criticismMay you never put yourself at the center of thingsMay you act not from arrogance but out of serviceMay you work on yourselfBuilding up and refining the ways of your mindMay those who […]

What if you were the only person left on Earth?

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Drive to Abundance (@drivetoabundance) What is you woke up one day and you were the only person left on Earth? What would you change?  It’s amazing how much we acquire and want only to impress other people.  A fantastic thought from Derren Brown, and one that […]

Sarah’s Story. Is there an invisible line in your P&L statement?

Take a look at your own business. Could there be a hidden cost line in your P&L? One that represents the personal price you paid when you took on the client work yourself? When you knew you needed that new hire but decided to put extra pressure on existing teams instead? 

Bloopers – The Emotional Overdraft Audiobook

Over the past few months, I’ve spent about 30 hours recording The Emotional Overdraft audiobook. Needless to say, I’ve never recorded a book before, and as part of the process, my audiobook editor provided me with a simple handheld clicker. Every time I made a mistake, wanted to rerecord a sentence, or was rudely interrupted, […]

Set up red team. Here’s why…

The Concept of a ‘red team’ is essentially a group tasked with a singular, intriguing mission: to design a hypothetical competitor capable of outperforming or even obliterating the current organisation.

Sunday Scaries or Signals?

What your Sunday evening feeling is telling you about your leadership and wellbeing Sunday evening is honest, isn’t it? There’s no hiding from it. It whispers truths about the week ahead that we sometimes don’t want to face. Are you excited? Or does the weight of another Monday morning steal your smile? I loved David […]